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Billy Mink

<hr class='pbk'/> <div class='figcenter'> <ANTIMG src='images/cover.jpg' alt='' id='iid-0000' style='width:350px;height:auto;'/></div> <div class='figcenter'> <ANTIMG src='images/endpapers.png' alt='' id='iid-0001' style='width:80%;height:auto;'/></div> <hr class='pbk'/> Billy Mink <hr class='pbk'/> <div class='lgc' style=''>  Books by   THORNTON W. BURGESS   Mother West Wind Series Old Mother West Wind Mother West Wind’s Children Mother West Wind’s Animal Friends Mother West Wind’s Neighbors Mother West Wind “Why” Stories Mother West Wind “How” Stories Mother West Wind “When” Stories Mother West Wind “Where” Stories   Green Meadow Series Happy Jack Mrs. Peter Rabbit Bowser the Hound Old Granny Fox   Green Forest Series Lightfoot the Deer Blacky the Crow Whitefoot the Wood Mouse Buster Bear’s Twins   Smiling Pool Series Billy Mink Little Joe Otter Jerry Muskrat at Home Longlegs the Heron </div>  <hr class='pbk'/> <div class='figcenter'> <ANTIMG src='images/illofront.png' alt='' id='illofront' style='width:80%;height:auto;'/> “Of course,” said Billy Mink, “you and I are safe enough.” </div> <hr class='pbk'/> <div class='figcenter'> <ANTIMG src='images/title.png' alt='' id='iid-0002' style='width:350px;height:auto;'/></div> <hr class='pbk'/> <div class='lgc' style='margin-top:2em;margin-bottom:10em;'>  Copyright, 1919, 1920, 1924, BY THORNTON W. BURGESS   All rights reserved </div>  <div class='lgc' style=''>  PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA   BY ARRANGEMENT WITH LITTLE, BROWN AND COMPANY </div>  <hr class='pbk'/> <table id='tab1' summary='' class='center'> <colgroup> <col span='1' style='width: 4em;'/> <col span='1' style='width: 20em;'/> <col span='1' style='width: 2.5em;'/> </colgroup> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tab1c1-col3 tdStyle0' colspan='3'>CONTENTS</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'></td><td class='tab1c2 tdStyle2'></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'> </td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>CHAPTER</td><td class='tab1c2 tdStyle2'></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>PAGE</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>I</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>Billy Mink Becomes Suspicious</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>1</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>II</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>Billy Finds a Trap</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>6</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>III</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>Billy Outwits the Trapper</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>11</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>IV</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>Billy Finds Some Queer Fences</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>16</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>V</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>A Moonlight Visit</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>21</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>VI</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>Billy Warns Bobby Coon</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>26</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>VII</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>Bobby and Billy Put Their Heads Together</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>31</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>VIII</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>What Bobby Coon and Billy Mink Did</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>36</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>IX</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>Bobby Coon Gets a Fright</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>41</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>X</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>Billy and Bobby Warn Their Friends</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>46</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XI</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>Billy and Little Joe Decide to Go Visiting</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>51</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XII</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>Billy Has the Wandering Foot</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>56</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XIII</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>Billy Makes Himself at Home</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>61</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XIV</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>Billy Has Good Hunting</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>66</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XV</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>A Den of Robbers</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>71</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XVI</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>A Robber Meeting</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>76</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XVII</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>The Robbers Decide to Fight</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>81</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XVIII</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>The Rats Plan to Kill Billy Mink</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>86</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XIX</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>The Danger Signal</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>91</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XX</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>Why the Plans of the Rats Failed</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>96</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XXI</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>The Rats Leave the Big Barn</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>101</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XXII</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>Billy Mink’s Surprise</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>106</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XXIII</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>Billy Hunts in Vain</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>111</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XXIV</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>Where the Rats Were</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>116</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XXV</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>The Farmer and His Wife Are in Despair</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>120</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XXVI</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>The Rats Start a Fire</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>124</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XXVII</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>Billy Is Discovered</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>129</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XXVIII</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>The Farmer Guesses the Truth</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>134</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XXIX</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>The Farmer Makes Friends with Billy</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>139</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XXX</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>Billy Lives High</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>144</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XXXI</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>Billy Trails His Breakfast</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>148</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XXXII</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>Billy Makes a Discovery</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>153</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XXXIII</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>The Farmer Sees a Strange Sight</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>158</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XXXIV</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>Billy Goes Home</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>162</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XXXV</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>Billy Mink Is Quick</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>167</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XXXVI</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>A Heap of Snow Comes to Life</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>172</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XXXVII</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>Jumper the Hare Has a Bad Hour</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>177</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XXXVIII</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>Jumper Is in a Dreadful State of Mind</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>182</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XXXIX</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>An Enemy Proves a Friend</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>186</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XL</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>Something Billy Mink Didn’t Know</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'>191</td></tr> </table> <hr class='pbk'/> <table id='tab2' summary='' class='center'> <colgroup> <col span='1' style='width: 1em;'/> <col span='1' style='width: 19em;'/> <col span='1' style='width: 7.5em;'/> </colgroup> <tr><td class='tab2c1 tab2c1-col3 tdStyle0' colspan='3'>ILLUSTRATIONS</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle4'></td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle2'></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle3'> </td></tr> <tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle4'></td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>“Of course,” said Billy Mink, “you and I are safe enough.”</td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle3'>Frontispiece</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle4'></td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle2'></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle3'> </td></tr> <tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle4'></td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>Jerry Muskrat was swimming over towards his house</td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle3'>49</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle4'></td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle2'></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle3'> </td></tr> <tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle4'></td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>The Rats leave the big barn</td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle3'>105</td></tr> <tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle4'></td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle2'></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle3'> </td></tr> <tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle4'></td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'>It was plain to see that those Rats were in a terrible fright</td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle3'>160</td></tr> </table> <hr class='pbk'/> <div><h1 id='ch1'>CHAPTER I BILLY MINK BECOMES SUSPICIOUS</h1></div> <div class='poetry-container' style=''> <div class='lgp'>  <div class='stanza-outer'> The stranger and the unknown must Be always looked on with distrust. &ensp;&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;Billy Mink. </div> </div></div>  Of all the little people in the Green Forest there is none with sharper eyes and keener wits than Billy Mink. Nothing goes on along the Laughing Brook, from where it starts in the Green Forest to where it joins the Big River, that Billy Mink doesn’t know about. Billy is a great traveler. He is so full of life and energy that he cannot keep still very long at a time. Moreover, Billy is one of those little people to whom it makes no difference whether jolly, round, bright Mr. Sun is shining or gentle Mistress Moon has taken his place up in the sky, or the Black Shadows have wrapped everything in darkness. He takes a nap whenever he feels sleepy. Whenever he doesn’t feel sleepy he travels back and forth up and down the Laughing Brook. In these little journeys back and forth nothing escapes Billy’s bright eyes and sharp ears and keen nose. Being such a slim fellow, he slips in and out of holes and hiding-places which no one save his cousin, Shadow the Weasel, could get into. Now it happened that one day Billy curled up in a hollow log under a pile of brush close to the Laughing Brook. In a jiffy he was asleep. Right in the very middle of the pleasantest of pleasant dreams he was awakened. Instantly he was wide awake. He was just as wide awake as if he hadn’t been asleep at all. Without stopping to think anything about it, he knew what had awakened him. Some one had just passed his hiding-place. Noiselessly Billy crept out of the hollow log and peeped from under the pile of brush. Walking down the bank of the Laughing Brook was a man. “I’ve never seen that fellow before,” muttered Billy to himself. “It isn’t Farmer Brown’s boy and it isn’t Farmer Brown. He seems to be looking for something. I wonder what he is about. I think I’ll watch him.” So, as silently as a shadow, Billy Mink followed the man down the Laughing Brook, and the man didn’t once suspect it. You see, Billy can always find a hiding-place if it be no more than a heap of brown leaves. He just slipped from one hiding-place to another, always keeping the man in sight. Billy became more and more interested and inquisitive as he watched that man. The man certainly did seem to be looking for something. He would examine every half-sunken log in the Laughing Brook. He searched carefully along each bank. He looked into every little hole. It didn’t take Billy long to discover that this man seemed to be especially interested in those places where Billy almost always went when traveling up and down the Laughing Brook. Billy stopped and rubbed his nose thoughtfully. He was growing suspicious. “I wonder,” thought Billy, “if he is looking for me.” <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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